It's OK...

... to go to the movies on a Monday night with your little cousin, just because.

... to cry during the film version of "Perks of Being a Wallflower." And then proceed to go home and read it again.

... to buy a pack of gum, and finish four pieces of it within an hour of purchase.

... to raise your voice in preschool.  I have learned that what I once thought was an infinite supply of patience, is actually a limited reserve that can be easily drained by a classroom of rowdy four-year-olds.  Luckily, four-year-olds bounce back incredibly quickly.  5 minutes after you raise your voice, they are running to your arms to tell you they love you.  Thank goodness.

... to begin thinking in tweets ... 140 sweet characters at a time.

... or is it?

It's OK Thursday - a preface to Spring Break.

On this Thursday before my spring break from elementary school officially begins,  I proclaim that it is absolutely OK that I did not plan a single lesson last night.  It is OK that I came home from class, made dinner, and sat in front of the television watching American Idol with a glass of wine instead of doing anything even moderately productive.  Typically, this is not OK. However, today my students have their 3rd art class of the year for an hour this morning, followed by a half an hour of P.E., followed by another hour of  a “Sock Hop” (their quarterly school-wide book log event), finally to be followed by lunch, recess, and an Easter craft before dismissal.  Life is good in sixth grade today.

It is also OK that as a student teacher, I didn’t have spring break with the rest of the University. Initially I thought this was the opposite of OK.  I thought that I would be depressed and lonely and bored for the entirety of the seven days that the rest of campus was partying and sunning in Punta Cana.  Much to my surprise, it was peaceful and productive on campus while everyone else was off participating in college recess debauchery.  Now, I have a full ten days off before Easter and I could not be more ready for it.  E-town, New Jersey may not be as thrilling or warm as Mexico but I am excited to relax nonetheless. 

Another reason it is OK that I didn’t go on spring break yet? I had two people in the past two weeks ask me where I went for spring break because my I "look tan."  To these people I responded with pleasure that I indeed stayed in sunny College Park.  To myself, I silently thanked Mother Nature for unseasonably warm March weather during which I was able to drive with my top down and run for miles outside.  Let’s just hope the weather holds out this afternoon for a three and a half hour drive in the convertible and another opportunity at bronzing!

Additionally, it is OK that last week I discovered that my life is very heavily dependent on peanut butter.  If Skippy Natural Creamy Peanut Butter wasn’t single handedly keeping me alive in my state of poor college girl status, it would be a majorly unhealthy and border-line dangerous addiction.   

One last thing. It's questionable whether or not it was OK that during a game of "two truths and a lie," one of my students admitted, "My mom's name is Julisa, I like violence and cheese, and I hate hexagons." I'm not entirely sure which is the lie. Also, I'm debating how much concern to express.  

Coming to you from College Park, wishing I was in Savannah like this time last year, Happy Spring Break, Ya'll. 

It's OK...

It's OK...

… that I’m not home to celebrate Loverboy’s birthday today.  It’s almost Friday and that means as soon as the dismissal bell rings I will be on my way to NJ to spoil the boy who spoils me all the other 364 days of the year. 

… that it doesn’t feel like 5 whole years ago I was reserving “shotgun” of C’s brand new car on his 17^th birthday.  Time flies when you’re having fun, right?

… that I have not opened my school bag at home even once this week. My laptop has remained closed and I haven’t even looked at my planner past 3:15pm.  For the past three days. It’s one of those weeks so much is getting on during the day that I just want to leave work behind.

… to admit to drinking, um, a lot of glasses of wine this past Monday night.

… that a late night Bananagrams game with my roomies ensued from said wine drinking.  All on a school night! Watch out guys, Ms. Alensis is gettin’ wild. 

… that I have been writing checks to my friends for them to cash for me because I lost my bank  card on a grimy bar floor.  2 weeks ago. This issue needs to be solved, like, yesterday.    

… that I’m not writing a sappy post to Loverboy, because I did that last year (here). And I’m sure a lot of my readers are sick of it. However, I will not contain my excitement for seeing him this weekend! It’s been four weeks and I miss my old (22 year old!) man.

So. Happy Thursday, loves. And happy birthday, Christopher.  I hope you feel as loved and celebrated as I have felt since we were 17. 

It's OK as a Student Teacher

Welcome to another Glitz and Grammar edition of It's OK Thursday.

Go ahead and link up with Neely and Brunch with Amber if you feel so inclined to join in on the fun :)

This Thursday, I proclaim that it is absolutely OK....

... that after wearing heels for the past three days in a row, I am going to school in the comfiest teacher-appropriate outfit I can find.  Because on the fourth day, God made Sperrys.  

... that it was 9:44pm when I turned out my lights and went under the covers.

... that when I woke up after almost 8 hours of sleep, I was still hoping for a delayed opening so I could sleep more.

... that I have 3094835 things to do this weekend but I am just so excited to celebrate my roommate's birthday that I can't even imagine getting any of them accomplished.  

!!!!!

... to find students passing notes, but find them entirely too humorous to apprehend them so that they discontinue the habit. Honestly, as long as they can still pay attention while writing these nonsensical notes to each other, I don't mind.  And as long as they keep accidentally leaving them out on their desks when they are dismissed, I'll enjoy keeping up with the gossip ;)

... that while I enjoy finding notes, I am still not sure I understand them completely. Is it OK that I'm only ten years older than these kids but their conversations are alien to me?

Girly 1: "LMAOO What's up! Skool's BORING."
Girly 2: IKR! and nun cooling Hbu

Happy Thursday! 

(It's almost Friday!!)

It's OK...

It's OK...

... to have every intention of waking up extra early to workout, yet still set a second alarm knowing that you will never actually wake up at 5:00 AM before a full day of school. 

... to always grab two plastic forks when you go out to eat. You know... so just in case you drop your fork while eating your Chipotle salad, you don't have to get up.  

... to lay your clothes out the night before like you used to do in grade school. Hey, before the sunrise I'll take any shortcut I can get! 

... to cheer for the Terps from the couch.  Wish I could have been at the game last night, but screaming at the television set had to suffice. The players could probably hear me anyway, though.  #beatDUKE

... to unsecure (<--is that a word?) your tweets right before tweeting at a celebrity in hopes they retweet you. 

... to be unsure of a negative prefix for "secure." De-secure? Make un-private? Unlock?  Remove security? This is going to bug me.  

... if "retweet" is considered a word, I deem "unsecure" acceptable as well. 

... speaking of prefixes, it is totally OK to be over the moon ecstatic when, in the middle of a vocabulary lesson about affixes, a student discovers, "Hey, Ms. Y, I just can't believe prefix has a prefix! How weird is that." 

Just love it when my students pay attention to the lesson! 

It's OK...

It's that time again:




It's OK...

... to rush home from wherever you are at 8:45 to be home promptly at 9:00 for the start of Modern Family. It is only a half hour of comedy, it would be criminal to miss a second of it. 

... to be completely aware that school is starting in less than four days, yet completely unmotivated to get anything ready. 

... that I can't wait to see my roommates but am dreading the work the semester will bring.  

... to miss my boyfriend after just two days. Pathetic? Maybe. But I'll admit it.  

... to really, really want a spray tan. I'm staying strong to resolve to stay awayyyyy from the tanning bed, but feeling a little too pale for my liking.  Still can't bring myself to pay the $30/spray, though.  Any suggestions?

... to lug your laptop and charger all the way to Barnes and Noble, and then find that there is no outlet in sight.  It is also ok to enjoy a latte while forgoing the work you had planned to do. 

Happy Thursday, loves!

It's OK in 2012

What would the first Thursday of the new year be without a proclamation of all things that are questionably "OK" in my life as of right now?




It's OK ... 

... that I said I wasn't going to blog meaningless posts, yet today here I am. I haven't participated in a LinkUp since last year (ha.) Totally OK. 

... that it is 2pm and I am sitting in the kitchen, drinking coffee and blogging. What else is an unemployed college student on winter break supposed to do? 

... to cancel a hair appointment at the last minute because a two hour session at the gym was completely necessary.  

... that Christmas cookies are still occupying the table. For some reason I can't bring myself to throw them out yet.

... that my new Kindle Fire comes with me everywhere. #NerdAlert

... to love everything about the Kindle, except for the fact that it tells me how much of the book I have completed.  I hate knowing that I am 91% finished reading the last book in the Hunger Games trilogy.  Is there even life after Katniss?! 

... that the only thing I am completely sure of is my indecisiveness. I am so unmotivated to make decisions this winter break, that deciding whether or not I would go to the mall yesterday was so exhausting that a nap ensued. Consequently, I did not go to the mall.  

... that it is my bff Ashley's bday today but she is in MD, and I am in NJ. To go to MD or not to go to MD...that is the question.  

Happy Birthday, Ash! 

and Happy Thursday, loves. 

It's OK ...

... that I want to blow these images up to life-size proportions and wear them as signs for the rest of the week:

 I hate when it takes me until after the fact to realize my ridiculousness. Sorry Christopher, for you get the worst of it. 

No more fussin'.

Amen.

---

... that I am completely guilty of this, whilst writing papers, applying for jobs, etc. 

---

... that I have been done with the semester since Monday, but I have yet to go hope simply because I haven't packed yet.

---

... to actually shed tears because it is my last day working at the CYC. I will seriously miss those kiddies. :(

---

It's OK...

It's OK ....

... that C thinks the woman in this video will be me in 50 years... because I can absolutely imagine him behaving exactly the same way as the man (and probably sooner than 50 years.) Gotta love it. 

... if you are guilty of one or more of the items on this list.

... that I am both depressed and ecstatic to have taught my last 6th grade lesson and last fitness class until mid January. I'm going to miss my kiddies, but not the exhausting hours. Going to miss my gym classes, but not planning them.  This chick needs some sleep.

... that there are precisely three things I am looking forward to this winter break:

1. Sleep

2. Christmas

3. Dates with this goofy boy:

 and by dates I probably mean working out, eating, laughing, sleeping, repeating. 

Happy Thursday, Lovas! 

It's OK...

It's finally Thursday, and time to remind myself that all the pettiness, stress and poor habits that come with the work week are at least moderately acceptable.  

It's OK ...

... that I haven't gone to the grocery store since I came back from Thanksgiving break. If anyone was wondering, one can survive off of english muffins, peanut butter, and clementines alone.  

... to take two nights in a row off from legitimate school work. My head is telling me to take a break, and I am listening. 

... that your boyfriend offered to pay you to write a paper. Because that's normal, right? Is it not OK if I am considering it? 

... to eat ice cream whilst watching the Biggest Loser. 

... that it is the first day of December and I am still not ready to break out winter clothes. I need summer already. And a tan.  How about some more of that unseasonably warm 68 degree weather? Yes, please. 

... that the one positive thing to come out of winter is Christmas. And that your Christmas List is growing by the day. 

... that you won't get half of the things on your Christmas List, but you keep on wishing anyway.

(Santa, if you're reading this - I really need a new pair of leather boots. And an iPhone. And the new Michael Kors perfume.)

Happy Thursday!

It's OK ...

... if my boyfriend and I both have major crushes ... on the same person ... because that person is Carrie Underwood. In the words of C, "Carrie Underwood's legs are pure art." Can I get an amen? I'm working on getting there one day...

---

... that I've let myself get so stressed out, and have been on such a junk food binge that my face is all kinds of broken out.  OK, maybe that's not OK, but this conversation with my yellow roomer makes it slightly better(?):

"Mrs. Lensis, did you ever have da chicken's pox?"

Nope, actually I've never had Chicken Pox. Can you believe it?

"Den how come dere is dots on your face?"

Well, Beauty... because sometimes that just happens when people grow up.

{Enjoy innocence and pre-pubescent youth while you have it, my Yellow Roomers! xoxo}

---

... that with the Holiday Season comes all self-control and motivation in regards to healthy eating. Although I could use someone to motivate me a little - currently accepting applications for personal motivator to get me through the holidays. 

---

... to be absolutely over Taylor Swift. Enough is enough. The teenaged girl squeels and cries were cute three years ago, but you've been on the scene way too long now for it to be acceptable to scream like a child every time you receive an award. Nor is it acceptable to read a thank-you speech off the sharpie ink on your arm.  If you are privileged enough to work with Tim McGraw (Tim McGraw for Gosh sake!), you do not need to write his name on your hand like a last minute homework assignment. Time to find some grace and composure if you are going to walk across that stage in the same category as female musical legends. 

... that Martina McBride could sing "Happy Birthday" and it would bring tears to my eyes.  It also doesn't help that "I'm Gonna Love You Through It" is one of the most personal and beautifully written songs on the radio today. 

... that I was obviously watching the CMA's all night instead of doing anything on my to-do list. OH WELL! 

It's OK ...

It's OK...

... to use Halloween as an excuse to wear giant false eyelashes, no matter what your costume is.


... that your busy schedule only allows for reading 140 characters or less at a time; Twitter is a perfectly acceptable primary news source.


... to not have blogged legitimately all week, sometimes school must come first. ugh. 


... to work out for 3 hours and come home to devour unhealthy amounts of peanut butter.


... to be that girl who takes the last piece out of the candy dish. Hey, someone's gonna do it, might as well be you.


... to spend a very rare Thursday night that precedes a Friday without class nor work in bed, blogging and painting your nails.




Happy Thursday.
Link up! 

A Momentous Day

I proclaim that it is actually OK to protest wearing pants until the temperature drops below 60 degrees.

I can see how this first sentence could potentially put me in a poor light to those who don't know me.  Allow me to explain (and defend the fact that I'm classier than I sound.)

I am a summer girl by nature. I feel more comfortable in attire conducive to acceptable tan lines.  The moment the weather changes, forcing me out of my cover-ups and tanning oil, I tense up like a cat in cold water. Every bone in my body tries to resist approaching colder weather, and I think that's why if I try on the jeans burried in the dark corners of my closet before October strikes they are violently pulled off before even being completely zipped. The act of closing the thick material of denim (or even cotton) around my legs is as if someone is tightly closing a vital airway. I feel like I might pass out and die if I try to cover my legs before the thermometer reads 60 degrees.  Exaggerate? I do not.

Maybe it's just me, but I see a direct correlation between leg coverage and butt comfort.  For some reason with pants comes uncomfortable undies. And wedgies are just impossibly inconvenient in pants.

Also, pants are miserable in the rain. Even when it's only damp on the ground, the edges of my jeans always manage to get slightly wet enough to be irritating for the entire day.  And don't even get me started when it's actually raining. Is there a worse feeling in the world than drenched jeans, weighing about 20 pounds from dirty rain water, making the most trivial tasks utterly depressing.  Like sitting.  Sitting stinks in less-than-dry pants.

Unfortunately, I reached the point in my wardrobe where re-wearing worn "dry-clean only" dresses was no longer an option without looking like a hobo.  I had to resort to the inevitable: pants.  Mind you, I had to borrow a pair of khakis from my roommate because teacher pants have not yet made their return from their summer vacation to the attic.  Seriously.  After groaning for the complete 3 minute period between pajamas and departure in long khakis, I walked to my car...in the rain.  Imagine my excitement.

I've been in my placement since August and yesterday was the first day I arrived in pants.  A momentous day, indeed.

Today, I had to give myself a break and reverted back to my favorite wrinkled pencil skirt. It was 58 degrees outside and I was cold, but my legs were happy.  And that's OK, right?

PS - If I had legs like my girl crush Carrie I'd NEVER wear pants!!

It's OK ...

... that we didn't exceed our goal of 1220+ people at UMD's largest Zumba class.  Over 900 people still came to participate (impressive, indeed) and we had a BLAST!!

Thanks for coming girlies!

... to blame the cashier for not giving you one of your bags after checking out. You'll feel better cursing someone else out on your second trip to Target at 9pm after leaving groceries behind during the first trip.


... to cry at one point during every episode of NBC's "Parenthood"


... that you're ready for lunch at 10:45am.


... that you can't help but giggle during the first interrogatory phase of my preschooler's "study." The Yellow Room is going to study farms this unit, and after visiting the campus farm had some humorous intuitive questions:

- "If you put your finger in the horses mouth will he bite? -Guidette, age 3

- "Why is it so stinky in there?" - Blondie, age 4

- "Why the cow have bugs on his feet? - Little Man, age 4

- "Why their little poops smell so big?" - Diva, age 3

... to hate being a poor college student but admit that you wouldn't change a damn thing.

It's Thursday and totally OK to justify anything you do with "it's OK." It's fine, really. 

It's OK...

It's OK ...
... if the only thing you cross off your to-do list today is "go to the gym." Sometimes homework can wait.
... to wake up every day at 6 but still not be used to getting up before the sun. 
... that the only color you have painted your nails in two weeks is clear. Working in a school setting just does not promote chip-less manicures. I would love to be rocking this right now, however:

... to be a poor college student. On the bright side, I may even be losing some weight due to the fact I don't have the dinero for PSLs or other weekend beverages. (sigh)
... to not think this coffee cup is cute, at all. Sorry "Women's Health" but a miniature bear head at the end of my coffee is not going to "brighten my morning." 

... to consider a bowl of cheerios a perfectly acceptable dinner. This girl is busy! 

... to miss this boy already after seeing him just four days ago...

OH and it's also OK to be perfectly giddy getting the "Versatile Blogger" award (even for the second time!) Thanks sweet  Victoria @ Mine to Live...  for awarding me with my second Blogger award -  I am more than flattered and I think that's totally OK. :)

It's OK...

... to have taken a blogging hiatus (and a social life hiatus) for the past few days due to sickness. I've needed my sleep! 
... to not want to do anything this weekend. Seriously, this chica needs a break. 
... to take Tylenol PM at 7:00 PM. Sorry I'm not... but this fever needed to go ASAP. 
... to count down the hours left in the school day.. starting as soon as you get there.
... to absolutely cringe every time someone uses "underneath of." Underneath is a preposition on its own, it does not require "of" to come after it.
... to be celebrating "Thirsty Thursday" literally as a very thirsty, dehydrated person. The only thing I am thirst for is water and orange juice.  Bring on the Vitamin C .. wild night!! 
... to completely understand there is a direct correlation between fall weather and junky eating. One of the 9237 reasons I wish it was still summer...  but who can resist pumpkin spiced anything? 
... to totally put anything productive on hold for Thursday night television.  I can't wait for Whitney Cumming's new show. What are you guys watching?!

It's OK...

It's OK ... ... To consider delaying your daily Diet Coke a half an hour each day a serious feat. Hey, I may not be able to quit cold turkey ... but waiting until 1:00 when my coffee cup depleted at 8:00 is definitely noteworthy for a caffeine-addict like me - a caffeine addict who dreams of being hooked up to an IV of diet coke on her way to work. 
... To secretly wish school would close immediately after a bomb-threat.more on this topic later. Yes, Hollywood had a bomb scare, and yes it was just a prank so Thank the Goodness that we are all safe and sound.  A day off still would have been nice. 
... To sit on the couch with a ginormous bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch just like you were 10. It's the taste even adults can see. 
... To start undressing the moment you enter your apartment after a day at school. This includes all jewelry, undergarments, shoes, etc. I want nothing more after a day of teaching than to strip my teaching clothes off and lay in my pajamas.  
... To look forward to not having anything to look forward to this weekend. This week has been especially hectic and I just can not wait to do absolutely nothing come Saturday afternoon. 

It's OK...

It's OK ... 

... To think everyone is completely overreacting over the Earthquake, yet still be ridiculously outraged your school isn't one of the 32 in the county that has a day off.

... To want to put Chocolate and Peanut Butter in your Oatmeal. It's a real thing.

... To be slightly excited for a natural disaster. But only when you're in college because College is the only place that being locked in your home (apartment/dorm/frat house/dive-bar) for hours on end is fun. 

... To be excited it's Thursday because that means it's also Jersday.

... And that Jersey Shore is your not so-guilty pleasure. 

... To work out hardcore Jillian Michaels Style and reward yourself with a Chipwich. 

... To be a vegetarian... just for a week... just to see if you can do it. 

(I can!)


... That you cringe and want to scream and maybe even sweat a little bit every time someone writes "a lot" as one word. 

....I think

It's OK ...

After whining for the entirety of my last post, I surfed the blogosphere a bit (still haven't packed, worked out, or napped..) and found this fun link-up @Amber's blog. What a great way to feel a little better about the way I'm spending my Thursday. 

This Thursday, at least for me, it's ok ...

- To go a day without Make-up. Especially in the summer, a tan is a girl's best foundation!

- To pretend that country stud is singing just to you ;) 

- To write trivial blog posts just for fun. Sometimes your brain needs a break. 

- To go to Target for the sole reason of buying your boyfriend new undershirts. Just because you have a coupon. 

- And to be giddily excited to give them to him. 

- That new metallic Sharpies were the highlight of your week.

- To not be at the beach on a *surprisingly* sunny day with no other concrete plans. *sigh* that was really hard to say. 

- To not answer a phone call because it was "charging upstairs..." 

- To eat a pork roll and egg sandwich two hours after your bowl of greek yogurt.  Girlfriend can't be healthy all the time. Jersey girls need their Pork Roll! 

- To totally feel like you're scamming on Glamour's "Hey, it's OK..." column because, hey, that's what makes Glamour your favorite Magazine - flatter yourself, Glam.